Method of and an apparatus for substantially minimizing inward collapsing of a purse having soft side and end wall body portions

ABSTRACT

In combination with a pre-selected ladies purse having soft side wall and end wall portions which tend to collapse inwardly toward each other when such purse is insufficiently full, the improvement comprising an apparatus which will substantially minimize collapsing of the soft side wall and end wall portions when the purse is not full. The apparatus has a flexible member having each of a predetermined length, a predetermined width, and a predetermined thickness.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to purses having a soft body portion and, more particularly, this invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for minimizing the soft body portion from collapsing inwardly on itself, if not completely full, thereby giving the purse the appearance of being substantially full.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is generally well known, prior to the conception and development of the present invention, most women have a passion for purses. Today these purses come in many sizes and shapes as well as with soft and hard body portions. Purses with soft body portions, when they are not substantially full, have a tendency to collapse inwardly toward opposing side and end walls. Such collapsing of the side and end wall portions of the purse gives them a relatively unattractive appearance. In order to overcome this unattractive appearance many women stuff their purse with wadded up paper.

It is also well known, in the prior art, that today's modern purses have at least one pocket which is formed adjacent at least one of their outer side walls in order to accommodate various pre-selected items such as, by way of example, cell phones, credit cards, pens, etc. Usually, these purses will have a number of such pockets formed adjacent their outer side walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides in combination with a pre-selected ladies purse having soft side wall and end wall portions which tend to collapse inwardly toward each other when such purse is insufficiently full, the improvement comprising an apparatus which substantially minimizes collapsing of the soft side wall and end wall portions when such purse is not full. The apparatus includes a flexible member. The flexible member has each of a predetermined length, a predetermined width, and a predetermined thickness.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing and using an apparatus which will substantially minimize a ladies purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and end wall portion when the purse is insufficiently full. The method comprising the steps of selecting a ladies purse which will utilize such apparatus and determining a size and shape of an interior portion of the ladies purse selected.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a method of and an apparatus for substantially minimizing a purse having soft side and/or end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and/or end wall portions when such purse is not sufficiently full.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for substantially minimizing a purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and/or end wall portions which is relatively inexpensive to produce.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for substantially minimizing a purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and/or end wall portions which includes cutout portions adjacent any side pockets formed adjacent such purse's side walls.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for substantially minimizing a purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and/or end wall portions which can be produced in a variety of sizes and shapes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for substantially minimizing a purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and/or end wall portions which can be manufactured from a variety of different materials.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for substantially minimizing a purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and/or end wall portions which is relatively easy to use.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a presently preferred embodiment of the apparatus constructed according the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the presently preferred embodiment of the instant invention illustrated in FIG. 1 and having a purse designers logo disposed on a pre-selected surface of such apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is an environmental view of using the apparatus of FIG. 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that identical components having identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the attached drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to drawing FIGS. 1-3. Illustrated therein is a presently preferred embodiment of the invention which provides both an apparatus, generally designated 10, and a method of manufacturing and using such apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 will substantially minimize a pre-selected ladies purse 2 having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and/or end wall portions when such ladies purse 2 is not sufficiently full.

The apparatus 10, which substantially minimizes collapsing of said soft side wall and end wall portions when said purse is not full, is having a flexible member 12. Flexible member 12 has each of a predetermined length, a predetermined width, and a predetermined thickness. The flexible member 12 is configured to be formed into a generally U-shaped member, as best shown in FIG. 3, so that, when the flexible member 12 is inserted into the pre-selected ladies purse 2, the center portion of the flexible member 12 is positioned in abutting engagement with a bottom wall of the pre-selected ladies purse 2 and adjacent upstanding portions will be in contact with a respective side wall. The flexible member 12 is selected from the group consisting of plastic, fiber board, paper and cardboard. More preferably, the flexible member 12 is selected from the group consisting of plastic and fiber board with plastic being the most preferred. Especially preferred is high-impact polystyrene.

The flexible member 12 further includes, in a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one notch 14 formed adjacent a pre-selected end of such flexible member 12. It should be understood that flexible member 12 may further includes a plurality of notches 14 formed adjacent such pre-selected end or even each end of the flexible member 12.

Additionally, the flexible member 12 may further includes a ladies purse manufactures logo 16 positioned on a surface 18 of the flexible member 12.

The first step of the process, according to the present invention, is to select a ladies purse 2 which will use the apparatus 10. Thereafter, determining the size and shape of the interior of the ladies purse 2 selected. It is also presently preferred that the method will include the step of determining the size, shape and location of any pockets that may be formed adjacent the side walls of such ladies purse 2 selected.

Another step in the process is selecting the material to be used to manufacture the apparatus 10. The material selected will have a predetermined flexibility which is at least sufficient to maintain the side and end walls of the ladies purse 2 in their desired uncollapsed position. Such material may be plastic, fiber board, etc.

Thereafter, the method includes the step of cutting the material selected above into a predetermined length L and a predetermined width W which depends on the ladies purse selected. The method may further include determining the number, length and location of any pockets formed adjacent the side walls of the ladies purse 2 selected so that notches 14 can be cut in the ends of the apparatus 10 to allow access to such pockets.

It is further within the scope of the present invention to include in the method the provision of adding ladies purse designer logos on the exterior of the apparatus 10.

While both a presently preferred and several alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above in sufficient detail to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to practice the invention, it should be understood that various other arrangements of the apparatus taught herein can be envisioned by those persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. In combination with a pre-selected ladies purse having soft side wall and end wall portions which tend to collapse inwardly toward each other when said purse is insufficiently full, the improvement comprising an apparatus configured to substantially minimize collapsing of said soft side wall and end wall portions when said purse is not full, said apparatus having a flexible member, said flexible member having each of a predetermined length, a predetermined width, and a predetermined thickness.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member is selected from the group consisting of plastic, fiber board, paper and cardboard.
 3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said flexible member is selected from the group consisting of plastic and fiber board.
 4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said flexible member is plastic.
 5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member further includes at least one notch formed adjacent a pre-selected end of said flexible member.
 6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said flexible member further includes a plurality of notches formed adjacent said pre-selected end of said flexible member.
 7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said flexible member includes a pair of notches formed adjacent said pre-selected end of said flexible member.
 8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member further includes a purse manufactures logo positioned on a surface of said flexible member.
 9. A method of manufacturing and using an apparatus which will substantially minimize a ladies purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and end wall portions when said purse is insufficiently full, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a ladies purse which will utilize said apparatus; and (b) determining a size and shape of an interior portion of said ladies purse selected in step (a).
 10. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said method further includes the step of determining a size, shape and location of any pockets that may be formed adjacent said side walls of said ladies purse selected.
 11. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said method further includes the step of selecting a material to be used to manufacture said apparatus, said material selected will have a predetermined flexibility which is at least sufficient to maintain said side and end walls of said ladies purse in their desired uncollapsed position.
 12. The method, according to claim 11, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, fiber board, paper and cardboard.
 13. The method, according to claim 12, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and fiber board.
 14. The method, according to claim 13, wherein said plastic is high-impact polystyrene.
 15. The method, according to claim 11, wherein said method further includes the step of cutting said material selected into a predetermined length and a predetermined width W which depends on said ladies purse selected.
 16. The method, according to claim 10, wherein said method further includes the step of determining a number, length and location of any pockets formed adjacent said side walls of said ladies purse selected and cutting notches in at least one pre-selected end of said apparatus to allow access to said pockets.
 17. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said method further includes the step of adding a logo of a designer of said ladies purse to an exterior of said apparatus.
 18. A method of substantially minimizing a pre-selected ladies purse having soft side and end walls from collapsing inwardly toward a respective opposing side wall and end wall portions when said purse is insufficiently full, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus of claim 1; and (b) inserting said apparatus into said pre-selected ladies purse.
 19. The method of claim 18, including an additional step of providing at least one notch in at least one edge of said apparatus. 